Installation of the New Mayor

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 245, 22 December 1887, Page 2

Installation of the New Mayor

At the Borough Council Chambers yesterday, after the business in connection with the gasworks loan had been disposed of, Mr George Riley was duly installed as Mayor of the Borough of Blenheim. Before leaving the chair Mr Douslin said he could not retire without first thanking the Council in reference to two matters. The first of them was that when he first took office it was anticipa-

ted by those opposed to him—he might say almost bitterly—that he would spend the Council’s money extravagantly. He would leave the Council to say if he had. He himself could say positively that nothing of the sort had occurred. When he first entered the civic chair he commenced

working under thu most economic principles ever taken by any Mayor, and had always been ably assisted by the Councillors. Had lie not received that support of course lie could have done nothing. When he fb-st took office the overdraft at the Bank was £2078 3s -Id, and to-day it was £l3Bl os Id. The other matter he wished to refer to was the consideration and courtesy he had always received at the hands of Councillors. During his term of oifico no misunderstanding had occurred, and he trusted that the now Mayor would receive the samo treatment. Mr Douslin then vacated the chair, and the Mayor, Mr Riley, occupied it. Mr Douslin then said that he was glad that Mr Riley had been elected Mayor, because he (Mr Douslin) always contended it was necessary that the gentleman occupying the position should have some training iq the Council first of all. No one, ho thought, without first having a training in the Council could thoroughly make themselves acquainted with the Municipal Corporation Act. In conclusion Mr Douslin said he was sure Mr Riley would fill the civic chair with dignity, and wished him every success. The Mayor thanked Mr Douslin for the kind remarks expressed, aqd hoped that he (Mr Riley) would bo able to fill the office as creditably as Mr Douslin had. He asked the Councillors to accord him the same support as they had given his predecessor; it they did his duty would be very light. He had served as a Councillor for seven yours, and he thought the Blenheim Council compared favorably with other governing bodies in the Colony, in fact some might very well copy them as regards order (Hear, hear.) After urging upon the Council the necessity there was to bo very careful with the expenditure of the Corporation finances Mr Riley resumed his scat. Cr Jellyman moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the late Mayor, as he had given a great deal of valuable time during his term of office to municipal affairs. Cr Parker seconded the motion, saying that the office had been no sinecure, and during the whole year Mr Douslin had only missed attending one meeting, and that was when ho was in Wellington. Mr Doush’n, in aok rowledging the com-, pliment, said he was pleased that his actions ’’n the Council had been so satisfactory to the Councillors, but he could not say the same to everyone in the Borough. Several times dur’ug b ; s term of office important matters had been decided by his casting vote. He considered it was the boundeu duty of the Mayor to vote in such a way as woo’d best help the interest of the Borough. He regretted extremely to say that there were some persons in Blenheim -who paseed him by hi the street without speaking for voting the way he had done. Had he acted in any other way the interests of the town, lie said, would have been materially effected, and ho would have felt ashamed to look the burgesses m the face. After the usual ' accounts had beep passed the meeting adjourned.